Bass-pedal for piano-fortes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. WIESBAUER. Bass'Pedal forrPiano Fortes.

No. 228,963. PatentedJune 15,1880.

} WITNESSES INVENTOR 0 m ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

A. WIE S B AUE R. Bass Pedal for Piano Fortes.

Patented June 15,1880.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY NJ-ETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGYON, D C.

ANDREW VIESBAUER, O

PATENT OFFICE.

F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BASS-PEDAL FOR PlANO-FORTES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 228,963, dated June 15, 1880,

Application filed October 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW WInsBAUnn, of Erie, in the county of Erie andState of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and valuable Improvement'inPiano Bass-Pedals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is arepresentation of a top view of my improvedpedal attachment for pianos. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, and Fig. 3is an end view of the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in piano-fortes.

The object of the invention is to increase the volume of sound andproduce a more varied harmony in piano-playin The nature of'theinvention consists in combining with a piano a pedal attachment havingpedals corresponding; to the keys of the key-board and attached theretoby means of a system of levers and connectingrods, as will behereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a piano,constructed in the usual way, and having" connected to its under side,by means of the metallic rods a, a rectangular wooden or metallic frame,13. This frame is usually mounted on caster-wheels for convenience ofmoving along with the piano, 01', if desired, may be detached therefromaltogether by means hereinafter shown. At the front of this frame, is aslightly-raised foot-board, I), through which extend rods 1', connectedto the operative mechanism of the soft and loud pedals, and providedeach with a foot-rest, b, by means of which the said pedals areconveniently operated.

D indicates pedals, in number corresponding to the whole or part of thatof the keys, and pivoted at their front ends in any suitable manner tothe frame B. These pedals are in corresponding positions in their frameto the keys of the piano, and their rear ends vibrate between twocushioned boards, 0 0, under the foot-board b, and are strips 1' on aboa-rd, c behind the boards 0 c aforesaid, or in. any other suitablemanner. The pedals D are supported from below and held up against thecushioned board 0 by means of springs .5, secured at one end to theframe and bearing against the said pedals at the other. Each of thepedals is provided with a hook, k, at its extremity near the footboard,with which is engaged the lower slotted and cushioned end of aconnecting-rod, (I, having at its upper end an adjustable hook, d, thatengages the power end of a verticallyvibrating lever, 6, having itsfulcrum on a hanging frame, Gr, suspended by means of rigid rods fromthe bottom of the piano-case. The frame G is obliquely arranged relativeto the length of the piano, and the levers c ter minate in rear directlyunder the power ends of a second series of lovers, f, whose other endsextend to the front directly under the key they are designed to operate.The levers f have suitable fulcrums on the under side of the case, andtheir ends bearing on the levers c are cushioned to prevent rattling andvibration.

g indicates metallic rods passing loosely up through the front ends ofthe levers f, and prevented from being drawn through the same by meansof buttons it, applied upon their lower screw-threaded ends. These rodshave on their upper ends a button, j, under which a hook, l, on theunder side of thekeys m, is e11- gaged, so that when the said rods aredrawn down the said keys are vibrated and the strings correspondingthereto actuated. The depression of any one of the pedals D draws downthe connecting rod (1 corresponding thereto, vibrates the correspondinglovers 0/", and actuates the key or keys corresponding to the pedal orpedals, producing a note or notes precisely the same as though the keyshad been struck.

By this means it is clear that the volume of sound may be greatlyincreased.

It is well known to organists how much the use of the pedals adds to thevolume of sound and to the harmony, and it is clear that the sameresults will be attained with the piano.

By the use of this pedal attachment, the bass guided in their vibrationsbetween vertical being played with the feet, a much fuller accompanimentin the left hand is admissible and a great increase of the volume ofsound and a more varied harmony obtained.

This pianopedal attachment is of paramount importance to organists inpracticing, and for pianists, also, is equally valuable, the study ofpedal-playing being very interesting and producin g very satisfactoryresults.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a pianoforte and its keys on, having hook Z, ofthe frame 13, having pedals D, the connecting-rods d, thelevers cf, andthe rod 9, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a piano-fortehaving the keys m, provided eachwith a hook, I, of the endWise-movable rods g, having button j, thelevers f0, the connecting-rods (I, hooked over levers 0. the detachableframe B, and the pedals D, having hooks 7c, engaging rods (1,substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the piano'fortc A and the frame B, having thepedals D, corresponding to the keys of the key-board, of the compoundlevers c f, connected to the keys and pedals, substantially asspecified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW VIESBAUER.

WVitnesses:

011s. STREUBER, J ACOB F. 'WALTHER.

